Residents React to 'Occupy Wall Street'
The movement "of the 99 percent" moves from Manhattan to Hartford and beyond.
The populist-themed and increasingly popular "Occupy Wall Street" movement hit Connecticut’s capital city Oct. 5, as dozens of protesters gathered before the entrance to Bushnell Park in Hartford to express their dissatisfaction with what they termed income inequality and corporate greed.
What started as a small gathering of a handful of protesters shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday had swelled to a large and vocal group that numbered close to 100 less than one hour later — and the movement showed no signs of losing steam as the morning wore on and more and more people seemed to be drawn to the crowd.
Many in the group expressed the sentiments echoed at "Occupy Wall Street" rallies across the country, summed up in the words of David Morse of Storrs, who carried a sign which read, "Tax the Rich."
Since then, the movement's spread across many states across the country, and Patch asked local residents to chime in and add their thoughts to what's going on.
"I'm warily optimistic of this movement," said Chase Rowley, who lives in Redding. "It's nice people are standing for change, however, unless any power, money, or influence falls directly behind it, I doubt its longevity."
Chad Messenger, himself a Redding resident and small business owner, said he doubts the movement's authenticity.
"I understand the dissent between those without jobs and those making lots of money on the top," Messenger said. "But the whole group seems disjointed to me. They argue against the rich, then they argue that their student loans should be forgiven. Who lent them money [for education] in the first place?"
Rowley wondered what would come next if the movement's demands are met.
"I would love to see justice served where it's due and to see a true paradigm shift occur in our time," he said. "Hopefully, the best people to assist in this choose the right side."
Messenger said he wished the protesters were constructive and offered solutions, rather than seemingly protesting against capitalism.
"There's power in protesting, certainly, but like I said, this group doesn't even seem to have a cohesive point," Messenger said. "Rather than banging on drums and yelling against corportations — sure CEOs make a lot of money, but look at how many jobs they create — maybe these people would be better off looking for work. At the very least, they could offer some solutions, rather than complaining about problems."
Lorna
7:46 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I truly believe if these people want social justice and to live in an equal society according to their definition, just move to Canada. It is beautiful, still close enough to visit friends/family, and they can enjoy all of the aspects of that life. If not, then deal with the other side in the USA that will fight back. Simple logic.
Susanne Krivit
11:39 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I think the reason the "Occupy Wall Street" group seems so undefined is that they are. They are giving voice to a general disatisfaction with our society and are taking aim at those who benefit most from it, but more than that they cannot say. My opinion is that we are not ready to make a paradigm shift as a society towards "the greater good", and that this is just a ripple that will subside. Most of us are perfectly happy to live our particular lives without thinking about the big picture. If we did, more of us would be taking to the streets.
Anthony Sanders
11:58 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
This article is portraying the Occupy Wall St. movement in the same light as modern, corporate media. It is hard to find a single report on the situation without a quote which makes the protesters look bad...for example - "Rather than banging on drums and yelling against corportations ...At the very least, they could offer some solutions, rather than complaining about problems."
There are no easy "solutions" to the problems that our country faces, and the reality is that we as individual citizens (whether Tea Partiers or Occupy Wall Streeters) have little ability to actually change the political system which "governs" us.
If you never "complain" about a problem, change never takes place.
Elizabeth Jorgensen
9:01 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
Canada? What about Americans working together to improve the life span and social conditions of all here? (Canandians have a longer life span) To my more selfish neighbors who seem to have made complaining about their relatively low tax rates an art form (the wealthy) why don't you stop whining and do more for your fellow Americans? The suffering and long term unemployed are not all "lazy". For a shocking example in my own life- I am interviewing for a low level part time job in the business I own and MBAs are applying and seem very eager to "step down" just to work at all.
Good luck paying even your co-pays if you get seriously ill with cancer etc. (unless you are very wealthy) We actually all pay a real dollar price for some aspects of social injustice- the middle class and the poor just pay a higher percent of our income for your educations, your roads, your entitlements etc. We all pay for health insurance companies who dump the sick from their policies- we all pay for children who are hungry and there fore not as available for education and self improvement. We all pay for the elderly who are beginning to lose their promised pensions etc. I guess if it doesn't actually effect you in this moment than it doesn't exist. Too bad too many of my wealthy neighbors feel so justified in their selfishness and ignorance- because we do need a revolution of caring and conscience in this great society.Hopefully reason will prevail, but I doubt it.
CTPati
11:23 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
The notion of "social injustice" is totally contrary to the Constitution and founding Principles of our nation!
Also, if you expect "caring and conscience" from government bureaucrats, such as the IPAB who will RATION Obamacare, then you are going to be sadly disappointed!
"Caring and conscience" comes only from families, neighbors helping each other, and charity through churches and other NGOs.
The free market capitalist system under which Americans have generally thrived (despite economic cycles, with periodic recessions/depression) has not failed.
It is corrupt and/or INCOMPETENT politicians who have brought the current depression on us through rampant OVERSPENDING, DEBT, wasteful (and CORRUPT political PAYOFFS) "Stimulus" and the disastrous policies of the CRA, which forced banks to lend to people who were *unqualified* to buy homes!!
Elizabeth Jorgensen
7:57 pm on Thursday, October 13, 2011
CTpati- You did not understand my post. I asked the wealthy to do more- and stop whining. It would be wonderful if sufficient caring did always come from families and churches. Sadly it does not-read your history- before the Great Depression elders were often left in poor houses and did not recieve medical care. Without Medicare what family could afford to pay elders' medical bills? Your points make no sense- we all do need government to provide some social help, unless of course we don't care about anyone but the other wealthy people we know.
And we have had 10 + years of extreme banking/ financial industry deregulation (that besides SOME people lying on their mortgage applications) were a root cause of the 2008 crash. Read more about what really happened before you react. We have also had 10 years of tax cuts for corporations and billionaires- all should pay more until this mess is fixed. Bush started the bank bailouts- no one has been prosecuted or held accountable for the crimes of Wall street- the "free market" you worship was not allowed to work. We all paid for the bail out, only the middle class and the poor paid a higher percentage. Period. You can not argue with the facts that the less wealthy pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes and they are becoming aware and fed up - finally. I agree that the political system is corrupt on all fronts- because of special interests.
Darlynne Patrignelli
8:23 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
Elizabeth, you "get" it. When I was in college we were taught in our ethics courses there would be a revolution eventually in this country because the middle class and poor would have nothing to lose by "revolting." We have done enough harm to our citizens, and we are at that point. Hopefully something good will come out of this -- a kinder, fairer society. Right now things are pretty hopeless for too many people who are unemployed, uninsured and without any prospects of changing their status. I wish more corporations would adopt the ethical thinking of Ben and Jerry when they began their company. The formulation for salaries was such that the salary of the lowest paid person in the company had to be within a certain percentage of the highest paid person in the company. Thus, if the CEO/President wanted a raise, it had to trickle down through the entire company. What a thought. Their corporate conscience valued the work that all employees contribute.
R. Brown
5:43 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
Mr. Messenger says "At the very least, they could offer some solutions, rather than complaining about problems." It is up to our congress to come up with solutions, not the people who are being hit with the problems. Unfortunately, congress lets the lobbyists write the laws - and we know who has the most lobbyists don't we?
Jenifer Hardman
10:30 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
CTpati, you sound extremely misled. If we had to count on NGO's, churches, and charitable contributions from the wealthy to provide for the minimum social services to the least among us, we would be in no better position than many other underdeveloped countries with huge areas of tent cities, and starving people with bloated bellies, looking for any means of survival. Research what percentage of their income the very wealthy actually donate compared to middle class and poor, and you will see why. Research how many of the very wealthy even tithe, compared to the middle class and poor....that is where the church gets it's capital, after all. The collection of taxes is what makes our country strong, as a whole, and the provision of some of that money for social services, medical care, assistance following natural disasters, public education, etc. Is what sets us apart as a country. It is how we serve each other. We, as a society, should not leave these vitally important provisions in the hands of those who might want to contribute...if they are feeling charitable.
Alexander B. C.
3:52 pm on Tuesday, October 18, 2011
You are either woefully ignorant or very stupid. Ctpati understands the situation very well and is on the money with her statements. The occupy crowd are losers, agitators and other assorted anti-semitic trash who hate America. Do not make the mistake of thinking these people are you, identify with you or would even help you. Say one wrong thing and they will probably kill. These are disparate losers who believe the nonsense they were taught in school to be deliberately stupid. They can push, we'll push back.
Elizabeth Jorgensen
11:17 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
I am heartened to read some of these thoughtful replies-once again it appears that the intellectual capital leans a bit left, as do the facts. Ironically, the far right (Tea party) agrees with many positions of occupy Wall street- namely that Government is corrupt and needs accountability. In truth the best solution will no doubt borrow ideas from many positions. Why is it so hard to accept that even some of us in a 'higher bracket' are willing to pay our fair share of taxes as the 'price of civilization" ? (as Oliver Wendell Holmes famously said). Step up as Americans, right and left and be willing to do what it takes to fix the corrupt sytems with transparency, accountability and compassion..
Elizabeth Jorgensen
7:16 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Alexzander- There is no way to turn your anger into intellectual curiousity. If you read any thing about these demonstrations- they are full of all kinds of people standing up for thir individual rights (remember when 'conservatives believed in individual rights?)
The Middle class and teh poor have been duped for too long- push back if you like- we have the numbers, teh facts and the truth on our side. Read your history to see what happens when there is an excessively unfair division of wealth in any society for too long. I know it is harder to read and be curious than to hurl insults and hatred, but "my side" has had enough. I can not wait to see where this movement will go- it should scare you.